Schreck's Market going to the dogs

Thursday

Dec 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Schreck's Market on North Fifth Street was sold Wednesday to a Stroudsburg couple who plan to open a year-round indoor dog training center with a twist. The property was purchased by Daniel and Lisa Kirschner for $270,000 from Ed Schreck and Mary Ann Hawk.

HOWARD FRANK

Schreck's Market on North Fifth Street was sold Wednesday to a Stroudsburg couple who plan to open a year-round indoor dog training center with a twist.

The property was purchased by Daniel and Lisa Kirschner for $270,000 from Ed Schreck and Mary Ann Hawk.

Training will be offered at different levels, according to Lisa Kirschner, including obedience and agility training. The latter involves teaching dogs to go over jumps and through tunnels.

"It's great exercise for a dog's mind and body and creates a stronger bond between the dog and its owner," she said.

The twist is the social component of the center.

"We plan to have meet-ups with similar types of dogs, get-togethers for socialization and have the owners get together too. It would be really great to meet up with people who have Australian shepherds like I do, and that would be a great way to do it."

Kirschner plans to hold meet-ups at specific times for various sizes and breeds, including small dogs under 20 pounds, medium dogs and large-sized dogs. There will also be specific meet-up times, so owners of similar breeds can exchange ideas and experiences.

The new center owners plan to enhance the shell of the old Schreck's Market to make it more eye appealing. But they will completely remodel the inside for its new use.

"The property required a zoning change to allow for their specific use," according to Michael Baxter of Michael Baxter and Associates, who handled the sale.

Baxter credited the May real estate auction his company organized that benefited local charities for creating exposure for the property.

Kirschner said the new center won't be just about business.

"One of the things we plan on doing is give back to the community," she said. "We will be working with AWSOM, getting dogs trained and adopted. That's very, very important to our vision and mission."